Our study was carried out in bench rhizotrons using the Camarosa variety of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), by exciding the apex of fast-growing primary roots at two distances (1 or 8 cm) from the apex. It was demonstrated that new lateral meristems were rapidly induced by excision of the root apex at either distance; after 24 h, histone H4 in situ hybridisation detected groups of cell-organising root primordia just a few millimetres below the cut. After a further 24 h, new lateral roots were about to protrude from the original root. Results show that lateral roots can be formed anywhere along the primary roots of strawberry plants from a few stem cells distributed along the pericycle close to the protoxylem arches.